Wednesday, 18 March 2009

Finding my feet

I've realised how I can use this blog. Instead of writing Dear Family letters, I can just write this like a journal and give the address to my family and friends. That way they can see how I'm getting on when and if they want to.For instance, I could tell them how we've still got plenty of snow, although it's beginning slowly to melt. We had some very cold weather in February, with temperatures under -20 C. When it did creep up to a few minus degrees we got snow by the truckload, so there's plenty to get rid of. We're enjoying balmy days with 3 or 4 plus degrees, but it freezes rock-hard at night. The sun comes up and goes down around 6.30, giving us 6 1/2 hours more daylight than we had on the shortest day. There was a picture in the paper today of a little girl clutching the first wildflower of the year - something that makes us all feel optimistic. Easter is coming pretty soon, and after that we should be free of the white stuff for a few months.I've been invited to be in the 17th of May Committee again this year. We'll still get to lead the National Day parade again, but most of it is practical hard work. There are 1200 children, each of which will get ice cream. We have to bag the ice creams according to school, classes or kindergarten.We serve hot stew to the choirs and bands after the parade, and are responsible for hoisting flags and traffic control, as well as organising the actual parade. We also provide to speakers. I will not be holding a speech this year.The revue group has already held a couple of script-writing meetings in preparation for the revue in the autumn. There will be a revue festival near Trondheim in July - two of Reidar's sketches have been submitted. we plan to go even if they're not selected. We're pretty excited about the trip to Edinburgh. 40 members of the revue group will be going, and we each pay just £100 towards expenses, otherwise the revue pays for everything - flight, hotel and just about all our meals. We'll be gone from Wednesday 6th to Sunday 10th of May, so I hope Robert, Claire and Sophie will still be able to come.Oops! it's after midnight, so I'd better stop for now.